Hosta plant named &#39;Volcano Island&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Hosta  cultivar named ‘Volcano Island’ is disclosed, characterized by distinctive large, bright foliage with a green margin, vigorous plant habit and strong foliage, with good resistance to environmental stressors. The near variety is a  Hosta , typically used for outdoor ornamental purposes.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Hosta hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘VOLCANO ISLAND’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar was discovered as an induced mutation using the knownchemical colchicine, of Hosta hybrid ‘Paradise Island’ U.S. Plant Pat.No. 20,798. ‘Volcano Island’ was discovered by the inventor, MarcoFransen, a citizen of the Netherlands in October of 2008, at a researchfacility in Ter Aar, The Netherlands. The intent of the breeding programwas to create new tetraploid Hosta hybrids with strongercharacteristics.

Directly after discovery of the tetraploid mutation, the inventorinitiated cultivation in tissue culture, during October of 2008, in acommercial laboratory in Iribov Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands.Subsequently ‘Volcano Island’ has been reproduced by micro-propagationand has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable andreproduced true to type through several generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Volcano Island’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Volcano Island’ These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Volcano Island’ as a new and distinct Hostacultivar:

1. Distinctive, bright foliage with a green margin.

2. Thick foliage resistant to environmental stressors.

3. Large foliage

4. Vigorous plant.

COMPARISON TO PARENT

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Volcano Island’ are similar to plants of theparent; Hosta hybrid ‘Paradise Island’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘Volcano Island’are more vigorous and produce thicker, stronger leaves than the parentvariety. Additionally, the new variety produces larger foliage than‘Paradise Island’. Leaves of ‘Volcano Island’ have a wider variegationon the margin than ‘Paradise Island’.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘Volcano Island’ can be compared to the commercial variety Hosta hybrid‘Eye Declare’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,466. The varieties are similar inmost horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar‘Volcano Island’ are more vigorous and produce thicker, stronger leavesthan the ‘Eye Declare’. Additionally, the new variety produces largerfoliage than ‘Eye Declare’ and have foliage with a wider, darker greenmargin than ‘Eye Declare’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘Volcano Island’ grown outdoors. This plant isapproximately 6 months old, shown in a 1 liter pot. The photograph wastaken using conventional techniques and although colors may appeardifferent from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurateas possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘Volcano Island’ plants grown in a commercialnursery in the Netherlands, from February of 2011 through June of 2011.Temperatures were 5° C. to 20° C. at night and 10° C. to 30° C. duringthe day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplant types. No growth regulators or special treatments were used.

-   Botanical classification: Hosta hybrid ‘Volcano Island’-   Propagation:    -   -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 14 to 21 at 23° C.        -   Root description.—Fleshy with moderate side roots.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Upright, herbaceous perennial plant.        -   Height.—Approximately 35 cm in a 1 liter pot.        -   Plant spread.—Approximately 50 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.        -   Branching characteristics.—Branches emerge directly from the            roots.        -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 4 months from a stage            3 tissue culture.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—Quantity per plant: Average 30 Leaf Type: Simple,            basal emerging Average Leaf Length: Approximately 52 cm            Average Leaf Width: Approximately 22 cm, at widest point            Apex: Acute Base: Cordate. Overall Leaf Shape: Obovate            Overall Leaf Aspect: Arching Margin: Slightly undulating            Texture of top surface: Smooth Texture of bottom surface:            Smooth Appearance of top surface: Slightly leathery.            Appearance of bottom surface: Slightly leathery. Pubescence:            No pubescence on leaves Color: Young foliage upper side:            Near RHS Yellow-Green 151A, margin near RHS Green 141A Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 151A, margin near            RHS Green 141A Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 154D, margin near RHS Green 141A Mature foliage            under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 154C, margin near RHS            Green 141A Venation: Type: Pinnate. Venation coloration            upper side: Near RHS Green 141C, turning Yellow-Green 154A            towards apex. Venation coloration under side: Near RHS Green            141C, turning Yellow-Green 154A towards apex.        -   Leaf petiole.—Length: Approximately 10 cm Width:            Approximately 2.9 cm at widest point Color: Upper side: Near            RHS Yellow-Green N144B Under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green            N144C Strength: Very strong.        -   Other foliage characteristics.—Thick foliage, resistant to            mechanical damage and environmental stressors.-   Flower: Plants were not in flower at the time of the initial    description.-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Disease resistance.—Better resistance to diseases or pests            has been observed in this variety, due to the strong, thick            foliage.        -   Temperature tolerance.—Hardy perennial, tolerates a            temperature range from approximately −30° C. to at least 40°            C.        -   Drought tolerance.—No tolerance for drought.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hosta plant named ‘Volcano Island’ asherein illustrated and described.